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JoAnn R. deBettencourt, 70, Loved Spending Time with Family and Friends

Wednesday, June 11, 2014 - 7:42pm

JoAnn R. deBettencourt of Oak Bluffs died peacefully on Monday, May 26 at Martha’s Vineyard Hospital surrounded by her loving family after a 18-year battle with cancer. She was 70 years old.

JoAnn was born in Brockton on July 26, 1943 to Joseph M. & Ruth (Sylvester) Fontaine. At a young age JoAnn and her family moved to the Island and settled in Oak Bluffs. She graduated from Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School in 1962. JoAnn was the beloved wife of Allan A. (Buddy) deBettencourt Sr. with whom she shared 49 years of marriage. JoAnn and Buddy started their own business, Buddy’s Auto & Truck Repair Service, over 35 years ago. JoAnn ran the business’s office. She also worked as a seamstress at Woodchips.

JoAnn was a devoted communicant of the Good Shepherd Parish. She served as secretary for the Oak Bluffs parks department as well as bookkeeper for the Oak Bluffs ladder truck. Joann enjoyed knitting, sewing, baking cookies and sharing her famous apple pie during the holidays. She loved spending time with her family and friends. She enjoyed taking long drives around the Island.

Besides her devoted husband Buddy, JoAnn is survived by her sons, Allan A. deBettencourt Jr. and his wife Gina, Joseph M. deBettencourt Sr. and his wife Nicole all of Oak Bluffs, her brother, Joseph Fontaine and his wife Jean of Sandwich, her sister Roberta Hearn and her husband Kevin of West Tisbury and Florida, her six grandchildren AJ, Tony, Angela, Joe Jr., Leah and Alaina all of Oak Bluffs, also her in laws, Nelson and Sandra deBettencourt, David deBettencourt, Deborah and Tony Ratcliff all of Oak Bluffs, and her best friend and sister in law Katherine Tiernan of New Hampshire, as well as several nieces and nephews.

A visitation for family and friends was held May 29. JoAnn’s funeral mass was celebrated on Friday, May 30 in Our Lady Star of the Sea Church followed by interment in Sacred Heart Cemetery in Oak Bluffs. Donations in JoAnn’s memory may be made to the Oak Bluffs Ambulance Squad, P.O. Box 2131, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557.